How to password protect a PDF file (4 easy ways)

These step-by-step tutorials will show you how to password protect a PDF file.

How to password protect a PDF file using PDFgear

PDFgear is a free PDF viewer and editor for Windows and macOS.

  1. Open PDFgear.
  2. Click Open File in the top left corner.
    PDFgear Open File button
  3. In the next window, go to the PDF file you want to encrypt.
  4. Select the PDF file.
  5. Click Open.
    Open a PDF file in PDFgear
  6. Click Tools in the top menu.
    PDFgear Tools
  7. Click Password.
    PDFgear Password
  8. Enter the desired password twice.
  9. Click OK.
    Password protect a PDF file in PDFgear
  10. You will receive a message saying the security settings will not be applied until you save the document. Click OK to continue.
    PDFgear security settings message
  11. Click the PDFgear save button (save) icon in the top left corner.
    PDFgear save button

The PDF file is now encrypted with a password.

WARNING! You won't be able to open the encrypted PDF file without the password. You should save the password using a password manager or memorize it.

How to password protect a PDF file using LibreOffice

LibreOffice is free and open-source office software for Windows, Linux, and macOS.

  1. Open LibreOffice.
  2. Click Open File in the top left corner.
    Open File button in LibreOffice
  3. In the next window, go to the PDF file you want to encrypt.
  4. Select the PDF file.
  5. Click Open.
    Open a PDF file in LibreOffice
  6. Click File in the top left corner.
  7. Go to Export As.
  8. Click Export as PDF.
    Export as PDF menu entry in LibreOffice
  9. In the next window, click the Security tab.
  10. Click Set Passwords.
    Set passwords in LibreOffice
  11. In the next window, enter the desired password twice.
  12. You can also set a permission password if you want. If you set a permission password, people will need to enter this password to be able to edit the PDF file.
  13. Click OK.
    Enter passwords in LibreOffice
  14. In the 'PDF Options' window, click Export at the bottom of the window.
    Export button in LibreOffice
  15. In the next window, select a location on your computer where you want to save the encrypted PDF file.
  16. Type a name for the new encrypted PDF file in the 'File name' field. If you want to save the new PDF file in the same location as the original PDF file, it's important to type another filename than the original file.
  17. Click Save.
    Export PDF file in LibreOffice

LibreOffice will save the encrypted PDF file on your PC.

WARNING! You won't be able to open the encrypted PDF file without the password. You should save the password using a password manager or memorize it.

How to password protect a PDF file using Ashampoo PDF Free

Ashampoo PDF Free is a free PDF viewer, creator, and editor for Windows.

  1. Open Ashampoo PDF Free.
  2. Click the folder icon in the top left corner.
    Open file button in Ashampoo PDF Free
  3. In the next window, go to the PDF file you want to encrypt.
  4. Select the PDF file.
  5. Click Open.
    Open a PDF file in Ashampoo PDF Free
  6. Click Document in the top menu.
  7. Click Security.
    Open PDF security settings in Ashampoo PDF Free
  8. In the next window, select AES-256 at 'Security Level'.
  9. Check the checkbox next to Required to open document option in the 'Passwords' section.
  10. Enter the desired password.
  11. You can change permission settings in the 'Allow' section.
  12. Click OK in the top right corner of the window.
    PDF security settings in Ashampoo PDF Free
  13. In the 'Verify New Password' window, enter the password again to verify it.
  14. Click OK.
    Verify password to open the encrypted PDF file in Ashampoo PDF Free
  15. Click File in the top left corner.
  16. Click Save as.
    Save as menu entry in Ashampoo PDF Free
  17. If you do this for the first time, Ashampoo PDF Free may ask you to enter a username. If so, type a username and click OK. The username is not so important, so type any username you want.
  18. In the next window, select a location on your computer where you want to save the encrypted PDF file.
  19. Type a name for the new encrypted PDF file in the 'File name' field. If you want to save the new PDF file in the same location as the original PDF file, it's important to type another filename than the original file.
  20. Click Save.
    Save a PDF file in Ashampoo PDF Free

Ashampoo PDF Free will save the encrypted PDF file on your PC.

WARNING! You won't be able to open the encrypted PDF file without the password. You should save the password using a password manager or memorize it.

How to encrypt a PDF file with 7-Zip

7-Zip is a free and open-source file archiver for Windows.

  1. Open File Explorer.
    Open Windows 11 File Explorer
  2. Go to the PDF file you want to encrypt.
  3. Right-click the PDF file.
  4. On Windows 11, click on Show more options.
    Windows 11 Show more options for PDF file
  5. Go to 7-Zip.
  6. Click Add to archive.
    7-Zip Add to archive
  7. In the next window, select zip or 7z at 'Archive format'.
    7-Zip archive format
  8. Enter your password twice in the password fields in the 'Encryption' section.
    Enter password in 7-Zip
  9. Select AES-256 at 'Encryption method'.
    7-Zip encryption method
  10. Click OK at the bottom of the 7-Zip window.

7-Zip will now compress the PDF file into an encrypted ZIP or 7Z file.

WARNING! You won't be able to open the encrypted ZIP or 7Z file without the password. You should save the password using a password manager or memorize it.

Author: EasyTech

Category: Windows

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